He chose Erie: Tom Tupitza blends law career with a passion for community

Tom Tupitza could have landed most anywhere he wanted after he graduated from law school.

The Erie native was, after all, an honors graduate from Harvard Law School, where he was editor of Harvard's civil rights law journal.

Many of his classmates went on to big firms in big cities.

Tupitza, a graduate of Iroquois High School, returned to Erie.

Professionally, the choice turned out well for Tupitza, who has focused his practice on finance, real estate and governance.

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Since 2007, he's been president of Knox Law, one of Erie's largest law firms, and has been honored with a Best Lawyer designation and recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer. He has compiled a long list of professional accomplishments, including service as an elected member of the American Law Institute and past president of the Association of Bond Lawyers.

The Erie community, by most accounts, has been just as well served by his decision.

Tupitza has emerged over the years as one of northwestern Pennsylvania's most sought-after volunteers, often serving in pivotal leadership roles at a time when the decline in Erie-based manufacturing has made community leadership roles harder to fill.

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That service was honored when he was named the recipient of the 2022 Tocqueville Award, presented by the United Way of Erie County for outstanding volunteer service.

He has filled dozens of public service roles over the years, including long stints on the board of the United Way and the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership.

Tuptiza also has taken on leadership roles with the Erie Community Foundation, the Nonprofit Partnership, Hamot Health Foundation, Erie City Mission, the Erie County Historical Society, VisitErie and the Warner Theatre Preservation Trust.

Barbara Chaffee, CEO of the Tom Ridge Environmental Center Foundation, has known Tupitza for years and worked with him in his former role as vice chairman of her board when she served as CEO of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership. Chaffee said she's also worked with Tuptiza professionally during his service as the legal counsel for her church, Erie's Luther Memorial.

Through it all, Chaffee said, she's been struck by Tupitza's skill and insight as a lawyer and his wisdom and compassion as a person.

"He's a really decent person with a great mind," she said. "Erie has been so fortunate to have him."

Be true to your school

Tupitza, who has served as president of the board of trustees of his alma mater, Westminster College in New Wilmington, counts that role among his favorites.

"I really do have a great fondness for Westminster," Tupitza said. "The faculty there spent a lot of time with me, encouraged me and helped me in many ways. I have been pleased to be able to give back there."

He has also given back to Erie, working on an improbably long list of pivotal initiatives, including the renovation of the Warner Theatre and the affiliation of Hamot with UPMC.

Tupitza, who received both the Eagle's Nest Leadership's Humanitarian Award and the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network's Excellence Award, followed the quiet example of his father, who was involved in a number of community service roles.

"You just grew up with it and you just think it's something you want to do to give back," he said.

Tupitza said attending a small liberal arts school for his undergraduate studies informed his decision to practice in Erie.

"You had the opportunity to get involved in things. That helped me make the choice not to go to a large city. I think that this size of community enables you to have a very satisfying professional career," he said. "It also gives you an opportunity not only to volunteer but to do it at a level that you can have an impact."

It's one thing to sign on to a long list of community roles outside of a demanding career. It's another matter to balance the two things.

"It's been a great opportunity and I appreciate that the firm has enabled me to spend the time," he said. "I have had some good role models who have done similar things."

An insider's perspective

So, what perspective have all those years of service given him?

And how, after being at the table for some of the most significant developments of the past 25 years, does Tupitza feel about where Erie is headed and what the community's priorities should be?

He said he sees plenty to celebrate as he looks back over the years, including the community schools program backed by the United Way and the development of the Magee-Womens Research Institute — Erie.

But for all the good things and investments taking place around him — Tupitza's office is flanked on one side by an ongoing $27 million Gannon project and on the other by a $8.25 million operations center opened by Marquette Savings Bank in 2021 — there is a lot of work yet to be done, he said.

High on his list is the need for economic development.

"What gets in the way is a mindset where it becomes about false choices," Tupitza said. "I don't think it's about manufacturing versus tourism or recreation. I think we need to work on developing all of the above."

Tupiza said he's also been impressed by the technology companies that have been drawn to Erie to participate in the Fire Accelerator program. Like medicine, education, tourism and manufacturing, high-tech needs to be part of Erie's future, he said.

"I hope we can get out of this either-or way of thinking and work on trying to achieve all of this," Tupitza said.

A focus on equity

He's hopeful, though, that there can be a common theme that runs through Erie's future — a focus on the sort of economic development that leaves no one behind.

The May 25, 2020, death of George Floyd, a Black man who was murdered in Minneapolis by a white police officer, drew widespread attention to the issue of equity and the challenges facing minorities.

Tupitza said he recognizes that even now there isn't complete agreement on the priority that should be given to equity and inclusion.

"We are not always going to agree, but we need to treat everyone with dignity and respect," he said.

In most cases, Tupitza said he believes the increased attention to the topic is part of an honest effort to do better.

"I think that the business community realizes how important this is," he said. "It makes us a more attractive community. I think it's a real positive, but there is a long way to go here."

Fully involved

Whether the topic is equity and inclusion, economic development or promotion of Erie's proposed three forts initiative — a Tupitza favorite — Laurie Root, CEO of the United Way of Erie County, sees him as a key to Erie's ongoing effort to improve.

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Root said she wasn't surprised when Tupitza won the United Way's top honor.

"Tom has immersed himself as a volunteer," she said.

"He did it his own way," Root said. "He is so quiet and gracious. People are surprised by the depth and breadth of his commitment to so many organizations.

"If he says he is going to do something, it's not lip service. He thoughtfully contributes to anything he is involved in. He brings so much insight and perspective and our community is better for it."

Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: United Way of Erie County named Tom Tupitza Tocqueville Award winner